DEATH OF A CYCLIST.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19497, 29 November 1926, Page 12

DEATH OF A CYCLIST.

COLLISION WITH iVIOTOR-VAN.

THE DRIVER EXONERATED

[BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. 1 CHRISTCHURCH. Saturday

The adjourned inquest concerning the death of Stephen Payne, aged 58, who died in the Christchurch Hospital on No vember 20 as the result of a collision be tween his bicycle and a motor-van driven by Frederick Withers, was concluded be fore Mr. H. A. Young, S.M., ccroner, today. Withers gave evidence that the accident was due to Payne pulling over to his wrong side to cross in front of the motor-van. Witness put on his brakes, but could not stop in time to avoid a collision. The cyclist struck the front of the van and fell to the road.

Dr. W E. Minty, house surgeon at the hospital, stated that Payne could speak when admitted to the Christchurch Hos oital, but he knew nothing of the accident Payne had all the signs of cerebral irritation. He became unconscious and it was decided to operate to relieve the pres sure on his brain The patient did not rally and died some hours later. The cause of death was laceration of the brain probably due to fracture of the base of the skull.

A verdict was returned that* Payne died from the iniuries he received throuerh accidentally colliding with a moving motor-van while he was riding a bicycle. The coroner remarked that no blame was attachable to the driver of the van.